Camera and print unit with detachable interface

ABSTRACT

A hand held digital camera with printer, configured to print, on demand of a user, images taken by the camera, said camera including a casing having an elongate socket that is open at one end; a user interface disposed on the casing; a first industry standard interface located within the socket; a printer unit received within the socket, the printer unit having a second interface compatible with the first interface, whereby the printer unit is detachably engaged with the casing by inserting the unit into the socket to engage the first and second interfaces together, the printer unit including a printhead for printing an image captured by the camera, wherein, when the printer unit is engaged in the socket, the first and second interfaces connect such that a user may manipulate the user interface to cause a captured image to be printed by said printhead.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to camera systems utilizing print ondemand printers and in particular discloses a camera with a detachableprinter engaged via a PCMCIA slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known for digital cameras to have PC card interfaces of the PCMCIAslot type for Flash memory cards and other forms of digital storage. TheFlash cards are typically removed from the camera after being loadedwith images and used to transfer those images to a personal computer(PC) or other similar device for printing and possibly for imagemanipulation.

There are, however, many advantages in ‘print on demand’ type cameraswhere the image can be produced from the camera either at the time oftaking the photograph or at a later time convenient to the operator.

The inventor of the present invention has also developed a compactportable printer which is directly engageable with the PCMCIA slot in alap top or notebook computer and that printer is the subject of aco-pending US patent application claiming priority from AustralianPatent Application No. PP7019 having a priority date of 9 Nov. 1998. Thepresent invention enables a printer of this type to be utilized in afurther situation by incorporation into a print on demand camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore provides a camera device comprising:

a camera having a lens for viewing images, an image sensor for sensing asaid image viewed by the lens, image processing means for processing asaid image sensed by the image sensor, and a first PCMCIA interfaceconfigured to receive a signal from the image processing means; and

a printer unit detachably engaged with the camera so that, when soengaged, the printer unit as a whole and the camera as a whole aresubstantially immovable relative to each other, the printer unitincluding

a second PCMCIA interface engaged with the first PCMCIA interface so asto be capable of receiving a said signal from the first PCMCIAinterface,

a paper cartridge configured for holding a plurality of individualpages,

a page-width ink jet printhead, and

a paper feed configured to feed one page at a time, from the cartridgepast the printhead to enable printing, on the page, by the printhead, ofan image corresponding to a said signal received by the second PCMCIAinterface.

A further aspect of the invention provides a camera device comprising:

a camera having a lens for viewing images, an image sensor for sensing asaid image viewed by the lens, image processing means for processing asaid image sensed by the image sensor, and a first PCMCIA interfaceconfigured to receive a signal from the image processing means; and

a printer unit detachably engaged with the camera so that, when soengaged, the printer unit as a whole and the camera as a whole aresubstantially immovable relative to each other,

-   -   the printer unit having a second PCMCIA interface engaged with        the first PCMCIA interface so as to be capable of receiving a        said signal from the first PCMCIA interface,    -   wherein the printer unit is configured to fit within a space        conforming to a space occupied by a type III PCMCIA card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, onepreferred form of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a detachable printer unit for use in aprint on demand camera system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper cartridge shown engaged withthe printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the printer and cartridgeshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the printhead andink reservoir shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a print on demand camera systemaccording to the invention incorporating the printer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the print on demand camera systemshown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is similar view to FIG. 5 showing the detachable printer unitremoved from the camera unit;

FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 7 showing the paper cartridge removedfrom the detachable printer unit;

FIG. 9 is a section through the camera system at some depth from theface presented in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a section through the camera system at right angles to thesection of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the operational interconnection ofthe various components of the camera system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The print on demand camera system will firstly be described withreference to the detachable printer unit which is engageable with thecamera system.

In the preferred form of the invention, a small compact printer isprovided which is adapted to print on business card sized sheets ofpaper and which is sized to fit within the constraints of a PCMCIA typeIII card (the PCMCIA—Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation—sets parameters for so called PC cards with a type III cardhaving a typical size of 85.6 mm by 54 mm and a thickness of 10.5 mm).It will, however, be appreciated that a printer made according to theinvention can be of a larger size e.g. to print on 6 inch by 4 inchphoto sized paper while still incorporating a direct interface with aPCMCIA slot by way of a PCMCIA interface plug as will be describedbelow.

In the preferred form of the invention the printer unit comprises asupport case 1 having a PCMCIA interface plug 2 protruding from one endand a pagewidth ink jet printer 12 extending substantially across thecase beneath a cover 3 at the opposite end.

The printer unit incorporates a docking bay 4 adapted to receive a sheetpaper cartridge 5 shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The paper cartridge 5 typically has a metal cover 6 incorporating a pairof integral leaf springs 7 arranged to bear against the top of a paperstack 8, forcing the paper downwardly (in the sense shown in FIG. 3) toa lower position, where the lowermost sheet in the stack may be fed outbeneath a front molding 9.

The cartridge is completed by a lower base member 10 and a back molding11.

The pagewidth printer 12 located beneath cover 3 includes a series ofink channel reservoirs such as those shown at 13 and 14 with onereservoir for each ink color in addition to an additional reservoir oflarge capacity for black ink. The reservoirs are formed around aprinthead 30 with feed channels progressively reducing in size, such asthose shown at 15, 16, 17 and 18, feeding the printhead 30 which isformed by chip manufacturing techniques and incorporates CMOS and MEMStechnology similar to that disclosed in Australian provisional patentapplication No. PP6534 filed on 16 Oct. 1998 entitled ‘Micromechanicaldevice and method (IJ46a)’ assigned to the present applicant andincorporated herein by way of cross reference.

The printer unit further includes rollers 19, 20 arranged to firstlywithdraw the lowest sheet from the stack 8 in cartridge 5, forward thesheet across the printhead 30, on demand, for printing, and eject thesheet from the printer unit via exit slot 21. The rollers are driven byan electric motor 22 by way of a gear box 23.

The printer unit is controlled by a printer control chip interconnectedbetween the PCMCIA interface 2 and the printer 12 and this may beincorporated within the printhead at 24 or in a flexible printed circuitboard beneath the floor of docking bay 4.

The electronic circuitry to drive the printhead can also include an ASIC(application specific integrated circuit) device which provides for aone-time use of the printer unit before it must be replaced. Thiscircuit, in the form of an ‘authentication chip’ is preferably similarto that disclosed in international patent application PCT/AU98/00544,also assigned to the present applicant.

The provision of a detachable paper cartridge 5 as a separate item tothe mechanism of the printer 12 allows for ready replenishment of papersupplies.

The printer unit is engaged into a camera unit to provide a completecamera system as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The camera unit comprises acamera body 25 defining a socket or housing adapted to receive theprinter unit, with the cover 3 and its exit slot 21 protruding from thehousing.

The camera unit further incorporates a lens 26 and a view finder havinga front window 27 and an eye piece 28. A convenient door 29 may beprovided for access to the battery or batteries used to power thecamera.

The camera unit includes a ‘shutter’ button 30 and a print button 31arranged to control operation of the detachable printer unit.

As described above, the paper cartridge 5 is detachable from the printerunit for replenishment of paper as can be clearly seen in FIG. 8.

The interior of the camera body 25 is provided with a PCMCIA slot 32(FIG. 10) engageable with the PCMCIA plug 2 on the end of the detachableprinter unit. When the printer unit is inserted into the camera body,the plug 2 is engaged in the slot 32 providing the appropriateelectrical interconnection between the detachable printer unit and thecamera unit.

The camera unit further incorporates an image sensor typically in theform of a CCD 33 (FIG. 9) located directly behind the lens 26. The CCD33 is connected via a flexible PCB 34 to main PCB 35 incorporating imageprocessing means which process the signal from the CCD and transfer itin turn to the PC card slot 32.

The camera system is powered by a battery 35 inserted through hingeddoor 29.

Turning to FIG. 11, there is illustrated, schematically, the operationalportions of the system which are interconnected by means of acommunications bus and include the CMOS image sensor (CCD) 37 whichcaptures a high resolution image via the lens of the camera. Aprocessing unit 38 for processing the image and forwarding it to theprinter control chip 39 which is located in the detachable printer unitand inturn controls the printhead 40 to produce the image 41. A memory42 is utilized for intermediate storage within the camera unit which mayalso include controls for manipulation of the image before it istransmitted to the printer unit.

In this manner, a print on demand camera system is provided whichenables a detachable and multipurpose printer unit to be used to providephotographic prints as required, while also allowing the printer unit tobe utilized for other purposes by engagement with other devices via thePCMCIA interface.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention asshown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is,therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and notrestrictive.

1. A hand held digital camera with printer, configured to print, ondemand of a user, images taken by the camera, said camera including: acasing having an elongate socket that is open at one end; a userinterface disposed on the casing; a first industry standard interfacelocated within the socket; a printer unit received within the socket,the printer unit having a second interface compatible with the firstinterface, whereby the printer unit is detachably engaged with thecasing by inserting the unit into the socket to engage the first andsecond interfaces together, the printer unit including a printhead forprinting an image captured by the camera, wherein, when the printer unitis engaged in the socket, the first and second interfaces connect suchthat a user may manipulate the user interface to cause a captured imageto be printed by said printhead.
 2. The camera with printer of claim 1wherein the printer unit further includes a paper cartridge and a paperfeed configured to feed one page at a time, from the cartridge past theprinthead.
 3. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printheadis located outside of the socket.
 4. The camera with printer of claim 1wherein the printer unit includes a carrier that detachably supports thepaper cartridge.
 5. The camera with printer of claim 4 whereinreplacement of the paper cartridge required detachment of the printerunit from the casing.
 6. The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein theprinter unit is configured to fit within a space conforming to a spaceoccupied by a type III PCMCIA card.
 7. The camera with printer of claim1 wherein the socket conforms to a socket for a type III PCMCIA card. 8.The camera with printer of claim 1 wherein the printhead is acolor-printhead having a plurality of ink reservoirs.
 9. The camera withprinter of claim 1 wherein the casing has a base and the socket islocated in the base, wherein the socket conforms to a socket for a typeIII PCMCIA card, wherein the printer unit is configured to fit within aspace conforming to a space occupied by a type III PCMCIA card, whereinthe width of the printer unit and the casing are substantially the same,and wherein the depth of the printer unit and the casing aresubstantially the same.
 10. The camera with printer of claim 1 furtherincluding a paper cartridge configured for holding a plurality ofindividual pages, wherein when the printer unit is engaged in thesocket, substantially the entire paper cartridge is located within thesocket.